A pregnant woman is recovering in hospital after the car she was a passenger in was hijacked by a crazed thug.

The woman, a Chinese national, was punched a number of times by the car-jacker as he sped through Dublin city centre.

But the victim managed to escape when quick-thinking detectives from Mountjoy and Irishtown garda stations managed to stop the vehicle.

Armed gardai then chased down the 27-year-old thug and he was arrested after a struggle. The suspect, who has over 80 previous charges and is from the South Inner City, was found carrying a blood-filled syringe.

A senior source explained that the woman and her husband were parking their car on Grenville street, near Mountjoy Square when the drama unfolded at around 3.00pm.

“The woman was seven and a half months pregnant and the husband got out of the car to get a parking ticket.

“This dirtbag jumped in and and drove off. It was only while he was driving that he discovered the woman in the car.

“He started punching her in the face as she tried to get out through the passenger door.”

Gardai from Irishtown station were returning from court when they came across the car and gave chase.

They were joined a short time later by detectives from Mountjoy station.

“The car headed towards Sean McDermott Street and the man got out of the car. He started running but armed gardai gave chase. He struggled when they caught him but he was eventually arrested.” In a sinister development the Irish Mirror has learned that the suspect was found with a blood-filled syringe.

The victim was brought to the Rotunda hospital but senior security sources confirmed that the baby and mother are “doing well”.

A garda spokesman confirmed that the suspect is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Store St. Garda Station.